Ferritin in normal human peripheral blood T-lymphocyte subpopulations

Six peripheral blood lymphoid fractions (total lymphocytes, non-T, T, Tar (autologous rosette-forming T cells/precursor), T mu (helper), and T gamma (suppressor) lymphocytes) isolated through rosetting procedures were examined for the presence of ferritin by a direct immunofluorescence technique. Although ferritin was present in all lymphoid fractions studied, a significantly higher proportion of ferritin-containing cells were detected in the T-cell fraction than in the non-T-cell fraction, (mean +/- SD = 7.9 +/- 1.6% and 5.0 +/- 1.2%, respectively). T mu- and T gamma-cell fractions showed a twofold increase in the number of ferritin-positive cells (14.1 +/- 1.4% and 15.4 +/- 2.6%, respectively), as compared with Tar (7.0 +/- 0.9%)-and total lymphocyte (6.9 +/- 1.3%)-cell fractions. These results indicate that ferritin is preferentially distributed in T mu and T gamma lymphocytes and may constitute the basis for explaining some of the roles exercised by these cells in the control of other biological systems.     

Effect of microwave treatment on the shear bond strength of different types of commercial teeth to acrylic resin

doi:10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2009.00333.x
Effect of microwave treatment on the shear bond strength of different types of commercial teeth to acrylic resin Objective: The purpose of this study was to verify the effect of microwave treatment on the shear bond strength of commercial types of teeth to acrylic resin, when the glossy ridge laps were unmodified (groups 1 and 5), bur abraded (groups 2 and 6), bur grooved (groups 3 and 7) or etched by monomer (groups 4 and 8). Background: Controversial findings have shown that mechanical or chemical changes in ridge‐lap surface of the tooth increase or decrease the bond strength between tooth and acrylic resin, and the microwave disinfection may cause different changes on this bond strength. Materials and methods: Eighty specimens (n = 10) were made with the acrylic resin bonded to tooth glossy ridge lap, polymerised in water at 74°C for 9 h, and deflasked after flask cooling. Specimens of the groups 5, 6, 7 and 8 were individually immersed in 150 ml of water and submitted to microwave treatment in an oven at 650 W for 3 min. Control specimens (groups 1, 2, 3 and 4) were not microwave treated. Shear bond strength test was performed in an Instron machine with a cross‐speed of 1 mm/min. Collected data were submitted to anova and Tukey’s test (α = 0.05). Results: Microwave treatment decreased the shear bond strength values of the tooth/resin bond. In the microwaved and non‐microwaved procedures, mechanical retention improved the shear bond strength when compared with the control and monomer treatments. Conclusion: Shear bond strength of the tooth/resin bond was influenced by the microwave treatment and different commercial teeth association, and was lower for the Biotone tooth.     

Use of acyclovir in the prevention of herpes infections after allogenic bone marrow grafts

In a double-bind controlled study, oral Acyclovir has been compared to a placebo in a series of 39 consecutive patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation. A dose of 200 mg was given every 6 h from day 8 to day 35 after transplantation. Pharmacokinetic studies have shown the good absorption of the drug despite intestinal damage related to chemoradiotherapy or gut graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), there was no sign of toxicity. The protection against herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection was complete in the treated group when compared to the control group even in patients with high anti-HSV antibody titres. The same protection was observed against cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. The incidence of HSV and CMV was the same in both groups after treatment ended. This study confirms the efficacy of Acyclovir against HSV infection and possibly against CMV infection when it is given prophylactically after bone marrow transplantation.